March 23rd, 2006 — 4.7 seconds left. 121-119 is the score.
Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry is at the line shooting his second free throw. He releases and the ball comes off the rim. Jason Richardson grabs the rebound and puts the ball on the floor. With precious seconds coming off the clock, J-Rich races up the court, fakes left on Terry, spins to the right, and shoots a leaning three-pointer. As the buzzer goes off, the ball passes through the net. A mob of orange jerseys celebrate on the court as dejected white ones walk off:
Warriors win. Awesome.
This is one of my first and fondest memories as a Warriors fan. To be honest, I didn’t remember the date or time left or score. I looked those up. I remember the shot.
Oh boy, how could I forget the shot? So smooth. So quick. So amazing. It’s not just the shot I recall; I remember having a cold that day. I had just woken up from a nap and I ran down the hallway to my uncle’s room where I found him fixated on the TV. My grandma was nagging me every few minutes to go to bed because I needed my sleep and I would plead with her “but it’s already in the 4th!” I liked basketball and the Warriors were all I really knew, but I was far from being a genuine Dubs fan.
This particular game changed that though. It was a good game and I was entranced. As Richardson raced down the court, my heart seemed to be keeping pace with his dribbling. When the ball went in at the buzzer, I felt a pure, genuine joy I had never felt before. It was exciting. I jumped off the bed and made as much noise as I could. I didn’t think about it; it just happened. It was at this moment that I really fell in love with the team. Maybe it was because the play was great. Maybe it was because the Mavs were really good and it felt like a huge accomplishment. Maybe it was the thrill of being awake against my grandma’s wishes.
Whatever it was, it was awesome and I wanted more. Warriors basketball consumed my life. For the next few weeks, everyday at recess I’d try to imitate that shot. I’d fake left, spin right, and release. I air balled most of the time. Once I even shot it over the backboard and over the gate onto the street. However, when I finally made it, I felt like the coolest human being on the planet. I bought t-hirts, posters, trading cards, and anything and everything that had a Golden State “W” on it.
No matter how bad things get, I can look back at that buzzer beater in Dallas, Texas and remind myself what it’s all about.
Being a Warriors fan has been challenging. It’s been fun and disappointing all at the same time. The “We Believe” team was magic. My first experience at Oracle Arena, a blowout against the Bobcats, was awe-inspiring. But I nearly cried when J-Rich was traded. Despite all of this, being a Warriors fan is more than just basketball. It’s been a way to bond with my uncles. No one else in my class liked the Dubs, so it was a way to express individuality. It was a way to learn about how to lose. It was about thousands of people coming together to support a fun team.
In high school, I was made fun of on several occasions for being a Warriors fan. I knew they weren’t very good, but still, they were mine. I’m a Warriors fan for life. Things are turning around now with a Steph Curry-led team, but no matter how bad things get, I can look back at that buzzer beater in Dallas, Texas and remind myself what it’s all about.
This is my first post here and I’m really excited to write for you guys more in the future. I hope you enjoyed it. I wrote this to introduce myself and I’d love to know more about my readers. Let me know what made you a Warriors fan or what your favorite or most meaningful memory as a Warriors fan is!